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I am a mediator and lawyer with two decades experience in litigation, corporate law, human rights law and policy. Drawing on my legal background and breadth of experience across the private and public sectors, as a mediator I combine a commercial approach with awareness and understanding of the personal sensitivities involved in any dispute.  

I provide the space and support to assist parties and their advocates to develop creative solutions to often complex disagreements.  

My mediation practice includes high value commercial and civil claims, workplace, clinical negligence and human rights. I have successfully mediated disputes involving, among other areas, issues of corporate governance, fraud, property, banking and finance, personal injury and employment matters, including designing mediations for highly sensitive claims. I mediate multi-party conflicts and those with unrepresented parties, across the private and public sector. 

I am CEDR accredited for both commercial and workplace mediations. In addition to my private practice, I am a member of CEDR’s commercial panel of mediators and clinical negligence mediators approved to conduct mediations for NHS Resolution's Clinical Mediation Scheme.

I provide workplace mediation services for The University of Edinburgh. I also mediate Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) appeals between parents, schools and local authorities.

I started my career at Freshfields where I worked in corporate law, litigation, and Intellectual Property, including a secondment to The London Organising Committee to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. I subsequently established a specialism in human rights law and policy at Amnesty International, Hickman & Rose, and INQUEST. 

In addition to mediation, I offer coaching and workshops in negotiation strategy. I also facilitate group discussions, allowing for effective dialogue between diverse groups including state bodies and individuals.

I have judged several mediation and negotiation competitions, including the Columbia Law School Harlan Fiske Stone Moot Court, the UK National Mediation Competition in London and the CPR Institute International Mediation Competition in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where I was on the panel to judge the finalists.

My c.v. is available here.

Publications:

Qualifications: 

  • CEDR accredited mediator

  • Solicitor (England & Wales)

  • US Attorney (New York and multi-state Bar)

  • Masters of Law at Columbia University School of Law, New York, New York

  • Bachelor of Law, Honours. from Glasgow University. 

Professional memberships:  

  • Law Society

  • American Bar Association

  • Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR)

  • Civil Mediation Council

  • Scottish Mediation

  • Society of Mediators

“I worked with Shona on extremely high profile human rights cases examining state responsibility for deaths of our fellow citizens in custody. Her legal knowledge and analytical skills were first class, and helped me immensely, but I was also struck by the compassion with which she supported the grieving families having to endure the unimaginable ordeal of recreating their loved one’s death. She understands the law; she understands human beings; she cares.”
— Dexter Dias KC
“Shona is a rarity amongst lawyers. She is much cleverer than she makes out and is very sympathetic to the clients. She knows how to cut a deal. Top rate and good value.”
— Jonathan Sachs Commercial Litigation Partner BDB Pitmans LLP
 
 
 
 

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